Puppy Christmas

She had no illusions about getting Christmas presents this year, as her family had fallen on hard times.  Despite the prospect of a cold and bleak Christmas, she maintained her usual sunny disposition, basking in the warmth and affection of her closely knit family.

When the snowfall ceased, Mini decided to go out for a breath of fresh air.  She put on her coat, muffler and cap, grabbed her hockey stick and puck, and went down to the lake.

The lake had frozen into an ice rink.  Children were skating on it. Mini struck her puck with the hockey stick and it glided smoothly across the lake.  Chasing it, she hit it harder and it disappeared into a thick clump of reeds.  As she parted the reeds in search of the puck, she found a pair of limpid, honey-brown eyes peering out at her.  The owner was the most adorable puppy she had ever laid eyes on.  It shrunk away from her hand as she tried to pet it.  She didn't know if it was trembling in fear or due to the cold.  Taking out a biscuit from her pocket, Mini offered it to the puppy.  Gingerly, he ate the biscuit, allowing her to stroke his soft, white fur.  Scooping him into her arms, Mini asked all the people round the lake if they knew who the puppy belonged to but no-one claimed the pup. 

The first evening star twinkled in the sky.  Closing her eyes tight, Mini made a wish and headed back home with the puppy tucked safely inside the warmth of her coat.
Mum had a welcome fire going in the hearth when Mini got back.  She unbuttoned her coat and to everyone's astonishment out jumped the fluffy little pup.  Mini told them how she found him abandoned by the lake and begged them to let her keep him.  "He can be my Christmas gift", she said, "Please let me keep him.  I promise I'll look after him myself." Mum and dad did not have the heart to refuse.  "Very well, you may keep him", they said.  Mini whooped with joy, hugging the pup in delight.
 After dinner, they sat by the Christmas tree, listening to the carol singers.  Mum set a bowl of milk before the puppy. "Tomorrow, you must think of a name for your new pet", she said and wished them Good Night.  Mini fell asleep with the pup curled at her feet, thrilled that her wish had come true.

 On Christmas morning, Mini awoke with a smile and a wet lick on her face.  She ran down the steps with the puppy in tow to wish her parents a Happy Christmas.

After breakfast, Mini grabbed her Frisbee and told her parents she was going to play in the woods near their home.  On reaching a clearing in the woods, she threw her Frisbee and the puppy caught it in his mouth and brought it back to her. "Clever puppy", Mini encouraged him. Mini threw the Frisbee high into the air but unfortunately it went crashing into the undergrowth, with the puppy crashing into the bushes after it.  After a while, when the puppy didn't return, Mini began to worry and called out, "Here, puppy".  Suddenly, he came bounding out with something in his mouth and laid it at her feet.  It was not the brown Frisbee but a round Earthen-ware lid that he had mistaken for it.  "Where's the Frisbee?  C'mon. Let's go look for it", said Mini.  She followed the puppy to a spot where he'd been digging.  A sudden glint caught her eye.  As Mini approached, she saw an earthen pot, the lid of which he had brought to her.  She gasped in astonishment at its contents.  It was filled with shiny, gold coins.  The puppy had unearthed a buried treasure. "I know what I'm going to call you, I shall name you Lucky", declared Mini. Elated with her find, she abandoned her search for the Frisbee, picked up the pot and headed home.

Mini's latest discovery rendered her parents speechless. The coins were probably worth a fortune. Dad said, "We can't keep this.  We must report this find to the authorities."  The next day, they took the pot to the police station and told them how they had discovered it.  The police thanked them and took charge of the treasure.

A month later, an envelope with a large government seal arrived in their letter box.  It contained a letter from the Governor, commending their honesty and a fat cheque as a reward. They could now live comfortably for the rest of their lives.  Dad said, "This proves what I have always maintained - Honesty is the best policy".  

From then on, Mini got lots of presents each year for Christmas, but she considered Lucky the best Christmas gift of all.